Annals of Plant Protection Sciences

Influence of host plants: cabbage, garlic and two varieties of onion, Poona Red Desi and Onion Gawran were studied on the biological parameters of Thrips tabaci. Significant differences were found in total developmental time between the host plants with total mean of 17.54 days and the total life span of 45.23 days. Oviposition period was 24.2 days on cabbage compared to 18.6 days on garlic, while 23.3 days on Pusa Red Desi. The highest fecundity (80.4 eggs) was observed on cabbage and 58 eggs were obtained when reared on garlic. Longevity was reduced to 23 days on garlic compared to 30 days on cabbage and Poona Red Desi. However, non-significant difference was found in the finite rate of increase and intrinsic rate of increase among host plants. Mean generation time was significantly highest on cabbage (28.79 days), while 23.86 days on garlic. Net reproductive rate was non-significant on cabbage and PDR but significantly differed on Onion, Gawran and garlic. Significant differences were found in I instar, pre-pupal and pupal morphometric. These variations in life table traits imply that the host plants certainly affected the biological parameters of T. tabaci which will be helpful in the management of thrips on onion crop.